Posted by By HAMMED BODUNRIN, Osogbo and TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure on
A delegation of Afenifere leaders headed by the group's national chairman, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, currently on tour of Yorubaland in search of peace and a common front towards 2007 was Wednesday attacked in Osogbo, Osun State capital by hoodlums, suspected to belong to a faction of the body and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state.
… Say 3rd term is time bomb
A delegation of Afenifere leaders headed by the group's national chairman, Chief Rueben Fasoranti, currently on tour of Yorubaland in search of peace and a common front towards 2007 was Wednesday attacked in Osogbo, Osun State capital by hoodlums, suspected to belong to a faction of the body and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state.
The attack, the second of its like in the same city, came as the pan-Yoruba socio-political group reiterated its opposition to the purported plan to extend President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure. It described the vilified project as "a time-bomb capable of tearing the country apart."
On the ill-fated entourage were: Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, former Ondo State Governor, Adebayo Adefarati, Senator Femi Okunronmu and Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfewa.
The group was attacked while returning from the State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Osogbo, where they had gone to participate in a personality programme tagged: "Platform," in the station.
The ugly incident which occurred around Oke Baale area of the town caused confusion for about 30 minutes as residents around the area scampered for safety while dangerous weapons including cutlasses, stones and sticks were freely used on the visiting Afenifere members.
In the ensuing melee, a Mercedes Benz car marked LAGOS GG 83 AAA said to be owned by an AD leader in Lagos State, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, was shattered while another Toyota Land Cruiser marked LAGOS AP 755 KSF also in the entourage had its windscreen smashed.
However, timely intervention of the security agents saved the situation as the attackers fled in different directions at the sight of policemen.
Though the group insisted it was the faction loyal to Chief Bisi Akande's faction of AD and the Oranmiyan group of Rauf Aregbesola that did the job, both AD and Oranmiyan promptly condemned the attack.
However, the Afenifere leaders still paid a courtesy visit on the royal father of the town, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi, who called on the Afenifere leaders to forget their internal crisis and come together in the good interest of Yorubas both at home and diaspora.
Chief Fasoranti who condemned the third term bid of president Obasanjo cautioned its campaigners on the impending danger of their agenda as a deliberate attempt to cause civil war in the country.
Chief Fasoanti said the third term bid was purely suicidal and anti masses, and could lead disintregration.
The Yoruba leader who addressed a press conference in Akure, called on president Obasanjo in the interest of peace and stability to relinquish power in 2007. "He should please quit the stage when the ovation is loudest so that peace and stability will reign supreme."
Chief Fasoranti dispelled speculations that AD had merged with any political party.
According to him, the party leaders are still rubbing minds with people who share same principles and ideologies in other parties.